JP2013073601A - Contact input device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a contact input device which can be operated without reducing the degree of freedom of button arrangement without visually recognizing a button.
A control unit sets an operation region on a contact detection surface of a touch panel according to an operation state of the contact input device. Then, the control unit 30 charges the suction dots of the tactile sensation generating unit 120 via the drive unit 20 so as to give different tactile sensations between the operation region and the region other than the operation region. When there is a contact with the operation area on the contact detection surface, the control unit 30 causes the operation corresponding to the operation area to be executed.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a contact input device in which an input operation is performed by contact of an operator's finger or the like.

  A touch input device such as a touch panel is a device that detects a finger touch of an operator as an input operation. Such a contact input device is usually used in combination with a display device. In this case, a contact input device is provided on the display device. Then, an image (virtual button) showing a button for the operator to visually recognize is displayed on the screen of the display device, and the touch of the finger to the position of this button is detected as an input operation by the operator.

  In such a contact input device, it is necessary for the operator to perform an operation while confirming the position of the button displayed on the screen of the display device. For this reason, when a visually handicapped person or an elderly person is an operator, it is difficult to visually recognize the buttons displayed on the screen of the display device, and the operability of the contact input device is lowered. .

  For improving the operability of such a contact input device, for example, techniques of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have been proposed. In Patent Document 1, an identification member is provided on the contact input device so that the boundary position of each button displayed on the display device becomes clear. Such an identification member enables the operator to tactilely identify the button boundaries. In Patent Document 2, the contact position of a finger is detected, and a button function as a contact input device is assigned to the detected contact position. As a result, the input operation can be performed even if the button position is not visible.

JP 2004-54827 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-62867

  Here, in the technique of Patent Document 1, a button can be arranged only at a position surrounded by a member for identification, and the degree of freedom in arranging the button is lowered. In the technique of Patent Document 1, there is a possibility that the identification member becomes an optical barrier and impairs the display quality of the display device. Further, in the technique of Patent Document 2, the position of the button is moved according to the contact position of the operator's finger, but what operation function is assigned to each button by means other than vision. There is no means to inform the operator. For this reason, it is necessary for an operator who cannot see an image showing buttons to actually check the operation function assigned to each button.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a contact input device that can be operated without visually recognizing a button without reducing the degree of freedom of button arrangement.

  In order to achieve the above object, a contact input device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a contact detection surface, a contact input detection unit that detects contact with the contact detection surface, and an operation on the contact detection surface. An operation region setting unit that sets a region, and a tactile sensation generating unit that is provided on the contact detection surface and provides a different tactile sensation between the operation region and a region other than the operation region. .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a contact input device that can be operated without reducing the degree of freedom of button arrangement and without visually recognizing a button.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the outline of the electronic device provided with the contact input device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the 1st structural example of a tactile sensation production | generation part. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the contact input device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure shown about operation | movement of a tactile sensation production | generation part. It is a figure which shows the 2nd structural example of a tactile sensation production | generation part. It is a figure which shows the structure of the contact input device which integrated the touchscreen and the tactile sense production | generation part.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an electronic apparatus including a contact input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 includes a display unit 10, a drive unit 20, a control unit 30, a ROM 40, a RAM 50, an audio output unit 60, a vibration generation unit 70, and an operation unit 80. Yes.

  The display unit 10 includes a display panel 100, a touch panel 110, and a tactile sensation generation unit 120, and functions as a contact input device. The display panel 100 displays an image corresponding to the image data input under the control of the control unit 30. The display panel 100 also displays an image (virtual button) indicating a button for visually recognizing an input position set on the touch panel 110. The configuration of the display panel 100 is not particularly limited, and various display panels such as a liquid crystal display panel and an organic EL panel can be used. The touch panel 110 functioning as a contact input detection unit has a contact detection surface, and outputs a signal corresponding to the coordinates of the contact position when an operator's finger or the like is contacted with the contact detection surface. As a configuration of the touch panel 110, for example, a capacitance type can be used, but a resistance film type may also be used. The tactile sensation generating unit 120 gives different tactile sensations between the operation area set on the touch detection surface of the touch panel 110 and the other areas. Details of the tactile sensation generating unit 120 will be described later.

  The driving unit 20 includes a display panel driving circuit 200, a touch panel driving circuit 210, and a tactile sensation generating unit driving circuit 220. The display panel drive circuit 200 drives the display panel 100 to display an image on the screen of the display panel 100 under the control of the control unit 30. The touch panel drive circuit 210 drives the touch panel 110 according to the control of the control unit 30 and detects the contact position of the operator's finger on the touch panel 110 according to an output signal from the touch panel 110. The tactile sensation generating unit drive circuit 220 controls the operation of the tactile sensation generating unit 120 according to the control of the control unit 30.

  The control unit 30 includes a processor such as a CPU, for example, and controls the overall operation of the contact input device shown in FIG. The control unit 30 reads a control program stored in the ROM 40 in accordance with a signal input from the touch panel drive circuit 210 or a signal input from the operation unit 80, and performs operation control corresponding to the read control program. In addition, the control unit 30 in this embodiment also has a function as an operation region setting unit, and sets an operation region on the touch detection surface of the touch panel 110 according to the operation state of the touch input device. The operation area is set to an area where the operation by the touch panel 110 is valid.

  The ROM 40 is a flash memory, for example, and stores a control program, control parameters, and the like necessary for the operation of the contact input device shown in FIG. In addition, the ROM 40 in the present embodiment also stores audio data and vibration pattern data necessary for performing notification described later. The RAM 50 functions as a working memory for processing in the control unit 30.

  The audio output unit 60 includes a speaker or the like, and emits audio corresponding to audio data stored in the ROM 40 under the control of the control unit 30. The vibration generating unit 70 includes a piezoelectric element and the like, and vibrates the base plate of the tactile sensation generating unit 120 with a vibration pattern corresponding to the vibration pattern data stored in the ROM 40 under the control of the control unit 30.

  The operation unit 80 is an operation unit for executing a function other than the function executed by operating the touch panel 110 such as a power switch.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a first configuration example of the tactile sensation generating unit 120. As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the tactile sensation generating unit 120 of the first configuration example includes a base substrate 1201, suction dots 1202, and electrodes 1203.

  The base substrate 1201 is a substrate on which suction dots 1202 and electrodes 1203 are formed. The base substrate 1201 is made of a transparent material such as glass and is disposed on the touch detection surface of the touch panel 110. The suction dots 1202 are made of a dielectric film that is charged by a polarization action caused by application of a voltage, and are two-dimensionally arranged on the base substrate 1201. The electrode 1203 is a transparent electrode such as ITO (indium tin oxide), and is connected to the suction dots 1202 and the tactile sensation generating unit drive circuit 220.

  In such a configuration, by changing the voltage applied to each suction dot 1202 via the electrodes 1203 respectively connected to the tactile sensation generation unit drive circuit 220, as shown in FIG. The amount of charge to be charged to each suction dot 1202 is controlled for each suction dot. “0” shown in FIG. 2B indicates a state where no voltage is applied, and “+” shown in FIG. 2B indicates a state where a positive voltage is applied to a constant power supply voltage. Yes.

  When the operator's finger F comes close to the uncharged suction dot 1202 to which no voltage is applied, no force acts between the finger F and the suction dot 1202 as shown in FIG. . On the other hand, when the operator's finger F comes close to the charged suction dot 1202 to which a voltage is applied, the polarization action between the suction dot 1202 and the finger F causes a polarization as shown in FIG. A charge having a polarity opposite to that of the suction dot 1202 is induced on the surface of the finger F facing the suction dot 1202. By such an action, a Coulomb attractive force is generated between the suction dot 1202 and the finger F, and the finger F is sucked toward the suction dot 1202. Here, FIG. 2D shows a case where the suction dots 1202 are charged positively, and are sucked as shown in FIG. Even when the suction dot 1202 is negatively charged, a Coulomb attractive force is generated between the suction dot 1202 and the finger F.

  As described above, the tactile sensation generating unit 120 illustrated in FIG. 2 can generate the Coulomb attractive force in units of the suction dots 1202. With such a configuration, the tactile sensation generating unit 120 gives different tactile sensations to the operator's finger F between the suction dots 1202 where the Coulomb attractive force is generated and the suction dots 1202 where the Coulomb attractive force is not generated.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the contact input device according to the present embodiment. The operation shown in FIG. 3 is controlled by the control unit 30.

  The operation of FIG. 3 is started when the power of the contact input device is turned on. When the operation of FIG. 3 is started, the control unit 30 first identifies the operation state of the contact input device (step S101). Thereafter, the control unit 30 sets an operation region on the contact detection surface of the touch panel 110 according to the operation state identified in step S101. Then, the control unit 30 instructs the display panel drive circuit 200 to display an image (virtual button) indicating a button corresponding to the operation area on the screen of the display panel 100 corresponding to the operation area (step S102). ). Here, the “virtual button” in the present embodiment refers to an item that can be operated by the touch panel 110 and does not necessarily have to be a “button”. For example, when the current operation state is a state in which a file displayed on the screen is directly designated and selected by the touch panel 110, the image itself indicating the file displayed on the screen is a virtual button in the present embodiment. It becomes a thing corresponding to.

  After the image indicating the button is displayed, the control unit 30 provides the tactile sensation generating unit so as to apply a suction force to the suction dots 1202 of the tactile sensation generating unit 120 corresponding to the button position displayed on the screen of the display panel 100. The drive circuit 220 is commanded (step S103).

  For example, when a button is displayed in the area indicated by reference numeral 1202a in FIG. 4A, the suction dots 1202b corresponding to the position of this button are charged, and the remaining suction dots are not charged. Similarly, when a button is displayed in an area indicated by reference numeral 1202c in FIG. 4B different from the reference numeral 1202a, the suction dots 1202d corresponding to the position of the button are charged, and the remaining suction dots are uncharged. To do. Thus, in this embodiment, the position which gives a different tactile sensation is changed according to the position of the operation area, that is, the button arrangement.

  After charging the suction dots 1202 corresponding to the button positions, the control unit 30 determines that the operator's finger or the like is in contact with the contact detection surface (tactile sensation generation unit 120) of the touch panel 110 from the output signal of the touch panel drive circuit 210. It is determined whether or not there has been (step S104). In the determination in step S104, when there is no contact of the operator's finger or the like with the contact detection surface (tactile sensation generating unit 120) of the touch panel 110, the control unit 30 stands by while performing the determination in step S104.

  In the determination in step S104, when there is a contact of an operator's finger or the like with the contact detection surface (tactile sensation generation unit 120) of the touch panel 110, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the contact position is a button position. Is determined (step S105). If it is determined in step S105 that the contact position is not a button position, the control unit 30 returns the process to step S104.

  If it is determined in step S105 that the contact position is a button position, the control unit 30 starts counting the contact time using the built-in clock (step S106). Thereafter, the control unit 30 notifies the operator of information indicating the function of the button corresponding to the contact position (step S107). This notification is a notification other than the visual notification. For example, a notification by voice using the voice output unit 60 or a notification by vibrating the base substrate 1201 of the tactile sensation generation unit 120 using the vibration generation unit 70 with a vibration pattern corresponding to information to be notified. The information notified in step S107 is information indicating the name of the button, information indicating the content of processing executed by operating the button, and the like.

  Here, during the processing of steps S106 and S107, the operator's finger or the like is in contact with the charged suction dots 1202. In this case, an attracting force acts on the operator's finger or the like, and this attracting force allows the operator to confirm that the current contact position is the button position without checking the screen of the display panel 100. It is possible to know. Further, by notifying the operator of button information by voice notification or vibration notification, the operator knows the name and function of the button corresponding to the current contact position without checking the screen of the display panel 100. It is possible.

  After notifying the button information, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the contact time has reached a certain time, that is, whether the contact time count has reached a certain time (step S108). If it is determined in step S108 that the contact time is not a fixed time, the control unit 30 determines from the output signal of the touch panel drive circuit 210 whether contact with the operator's finger or the like has been released (step S109). ). If the contact of the operator's finger or the like has not been released in the determination in step S109, the control unit 30 returns the process to step S108.

In the determination in step S108, when the contact time reaches a certain time, the control unit 30 notifies the operator that the button corresponding to the contact position has been pressed (step S110). This notification is also a notification other than the notification using vision. However, when notification is performed using the vibration generating unit 70, the base substrate 1201 is vibrated with a vibration pattern different from that when the button information is notified. Here, in steps S108 to S110, it is determined that the button is pressed when the virtual button position is touched for a certain period of time.
However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and information indicating the function of the button may be notified to the operator (step S107), and it may be determined that the button has been pressed when contact with the button is released within a predetermined time.
Further, after notification of button information (step S107), it may be determined that the button is pressed when an operation of tapping (hitting) the button position is performed within a predetermined time.

  After notifying that the button has been pressed, the control unit 30 executes an operation corresponding to the pressed button (step S111). After executing the operation, the control unit 30 returns the process to step S101.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the touch panel 110 is set by charging the suction dots 1202 corresponding to the position of the operation region (button) set according to the operation state identified in step S101. It is possible to give a different tactile sensation between the button position and other positions. Thereby, the operator can know the position of the button without confirming the screen of the display panel 100 without reducing the degree of freedom of button arrangement. Further, by notifying the operator of button information by voice notification or vibration notification, the operator knows the name and function of the button corresponding to the current contact position without checking the screen of the display panel 100. It is possible.

  In the present embodiment, since the tactile sensation generating unit 120 is made of a material having transparency, it is possible to suppress the influence on the visibility of an image displayed on the display panel 100.

  Here, in the above-described example, the tactile sensation generating unit 120 gives different tactile sensations by changing the Coulomb force depending on the positions of the suction dots. On the other hand, for example, different tactile sensations may be given depending on the structure shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a second configuration example of the tactile sensation generation unit 120. As shown in FIG. 5A, the tactile sensation generating unit 120 of the second configuration example includes a base substrate 1205, a suction hole 1206, a microchannel 1207, a microvalve 1208, a microvalve electrode 1209, and a microvalve. And a pump 1210.

  The base substrate 1205 is made of a transparent material such as glass. A suction hole 1206 is formed on the surface of the base substrate 1205 and is disposed on the contact detection surface of the touch panel 110. The microchannel 1207 is formed integrally with the suction hole 1206. The microvalve 1208 is configured to move forward and backward in the microchannel 1207. When the micro valve 1208 enters the micro channel 1207, the micro channel 1207 is closed, and the inflow of air from the suction hole 1206 to the micro channel 1207 is stopped. When the micro valve 1208 is retracted from the micro channel 1207, the micro channel 1207 is opened, and the inflow of air from the suction hole 1206 to the micro channel 1207 is started. The microvalve electrode 1209 is a transparent electrode for driving the microvalve 1208, and drives the microvalve 1208 by applying a voltage from the tactile sensation generating unit drive circuit 220. The micropump 1210 generates a suction force from the suction hole 1206 toward the microchannel 1207 in the microchannel 1207.

  In such a configuration, the microvalve 1208 is driven in the direction A shown in FIG. 5B through the microvalve electrode 1209 connected to the tactile sensation generating unit driving circuit 220, and the microchannel 1207 is thereby connected. Then, a suction force is generated in the suction hole 1206 or stopped.

  When the operator's finger F comes close to the suction hole 1206 with the micro valve 1208 closed, the suction force from the micro pump 1210 does not act on the finger F as shown in FIG. . On the other hand, when the operator's finger F comes close to the suction hole 1206 with the microvalve 1208 open, the finger F receives a suction force from the micropump 1210 as shown in FIG. Works.

  As described above, the tactile sensation generating unit 120 illustrated in FIG. 5 can generate a suction force in units of the suction holes 1206. With such a configuration, the tactile sensation generating unit 120 gives different tactile sensations to the operator's finger F between the suction hole 1206 where the suction force is generated and the suction hole 1206 where the suction force is not generated. Even with the tactile sensation generating unit 120 having such a configuration, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  In the above example, the touch panel 110 and the tactile sensation generating unit 120 are configured as separate bodies. However, as shown in FIG. 6, the touch panel 110 and the tactile sensation generating unit 120 may be configured integrally. good.

  Although the present invention has been described above based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications are naturally possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

  Further, the above-described embodiments include various stages of the invention, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some configuration requirements are deleted from all the configuration requirements shown in the embodiment, the above-described problem can be solved, and this configuration requirement is deleted when the above-described effects can be obtained. The configuration can also be extracted as an invention.

  Hereinafter, the invention described in the scope of claims of the present application will be appended.

[1]
A contact input detector that has a contact detection surface and detects contact with the contact detection surface;
An operation region setting unit for setting an operation region on the contact detection surface;
A tactile sensation generating unit that is provided on the contact detection surface and gives a different tactile sensation between the operation region and a region other than the operation region;
A contact input device comprising:
[2]
A drive unit that drives the tactile sensation generation unit;
The tactile sensation generating unit
A charging unit provided on the contact detection surface and charged by application of a voltage from the driving unit;
A drive unit for applying a voltage to the charging unit;
An electrode connecting the charging unit and the driving unit;
Have
The drive unit charges the charging unit disposed at a position corresponding to the operation area, and does not charge the charging unit disposed at a position corresponding to an area other than the operation area. The contact input device according to [1], wherein the touch input device is driven.
[3]
A drive unit that drives the tactile sensation generation unit;
The tactile sensation generating unit
A substrate having a hole formed therein;
A channel portion connected to the hole;
A valve portion that is disposed in the channel portion so as to freely advance and retract, and that opens or closes the channel portion;
A drive part for moving the valve part back and forth in the channel part;
An electrode connecting the valve unit and the drive unit;
A pump unit disposed in the channel unit and generating a suction force in the channel unit;
Have
The drive unit causes the valve unit to enter the channel unit corresponding to the position corresponding to the operation region to open the channel unit, and from within the channel unit corresponding to the position corresponding to the region other than the operation region. The contact input device according to [1], wherein the valve unit is driven so that the valve unit is retracted to close the inside of the channel unit.
[4]
The contact input device according to [1], further comprising a control unit that executes an operation corresponding to the operation region when the operation region on the contact detection surface is touched.
[5]
The contact input device according to [4], wherein the control unit notifies the operator of the contact input device of information corresponding to the operation region when there is a contact with the operation region.
[6]
The contact input device according to [5], wherein the control unit notifies the operator of the contact input device of information corresponding to the operation region by voice.
[7]
It further comprises a vibrating part that vibrates the tactile sensation generating part,
The control unit notifies the operator of the touch input device of information corresponding to the operation region by vibrating the vibration unit with a vibration pattern corresponding to the operation region. Touch input device.
[8]
The contact input device according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein the contact input detection unit and the tactile sensation generation unit are integrated.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Display part, 20 ... Drive part, 30 ... Control part, 40 ... ROM, 50 ... RAM, 60 ... Sound output part, 70 ... Vibration generating part, 80 ... Operation part, 100 ... Display panel, 110 ... Touch panel, 120 ... tactile sensation generating unit, 200 ... display panel driving circuit, 210 ... touch panel driving circuit, 220 ... tactile feeling generating unit driving circuit

Claims (8)

A contact input detector that has a contact detection surface and detects contact with the contact detection surface;
An operation region setting unit for setting an operation region on the contact detection surface;
A tactile sensation generating unit that is provided on the contact detection surface and gives a different tactile sensation between the operation region and a region other than the operation region;
A contact input device comprising: A drive unit that drives the tactile sensation generation unit;
The tactile sensation generating unit
A charging unit provided on the contact detection surface and charged by application of a voltage from the driving unit;
An electrode connecting the charging unit and the driving unit;
Have
The drive unit charges the charging unit disposed at a position corresponding to the operation area, and does not charge the charging unit disposed at a position corresponding to an area other than the operation area. The contact input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch input device is driven. A drive unit that drives the tactile sensation generation unit;
The tactile sensation generating unit
A substrate having a hole formed therein;
A channel portion connected to the hole;
A valve portion that is disposed in the channel portion so as to freely advance and retract, and that opens or closes the channel portion;
An electrode connecting the valve unit and the drive unit;
A pump unit disposed in the channel unit and generating a suction force in the channel unit;
Have
The drive unit causes the valve unit to enter the channel unit corresponding to the position corresponding to the operation region to open the channel unit, and from within the channel unit corresponding to the position corresponding to the region other than the operation region. The contact input device according to claim 1, wherein the valve unit is driven to retract the valve unit to close the inside of the channel unit.   The contact input device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit configured to execute an operation corresponding to the operation region when the operation region on the contact detection surface is touched.   The contact input device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit notifies an operator of the contact input device of information corresponding to the operation region when there is a contact with the operation region.   The contact input device according to claim 5, wherein the control unit notifies the operator of the contact input device of information corresponding to the operation region by voice. It further comprises a vibration generating unit that vibrates the tactile sensation generating unit,
The control unit notifies the operator of the contact input device of information indicating the content of the operation corresponding to the operation region by vibrating the vibration generation unit with a vibration pattern corresponding to the operation region. The contact input device according to claim 5.   The contact input device according to claim 1, wherein the contact input detection unit and the tactile sensation generation unit are integrated.

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